We're not title contenders

[Rosco]

Now before you get angry, these are the words of Rodgers himself

London — Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said the club's long wait to add to its collection of English titles will have to wait for another season.
Sunday's 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion left Liverpool eight points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of their match against the Gunners at Anfield this weekend.
Liverpool's immediate priority is to maintain a top four position that will see them qualify for next season's Champions League.
But Merseyside rivals Everton are just a point behind Liverpool, with Tottenham Hotspur two adrift of the Reds.
Liverpool have been crowned champions of England on 18 occasions, a record since surpassed by arch-rivals Manchester United.
But none of those triumphs have come in the Premier League era, with the Merseysiders' most recent domestic title achieved in the 1989/90 season.
And Rodgers said that at the present time they were not going to end their title drought.
"I think for us, as a team, it's too early for that," he told Sky Sports on Wednesday.
"I was at the Manchester City-Chelsea game the other night and I look at the squads they have, which they have built up over the last few years, and it's very difficult for us even though we have competed right the way through the season.
"So, I wouldn't say for us this year, no. We wouldn't be challengers for it.
"Will we play a part in it (the title race)? Yes, we will, because we are professional and we want to fight to finish as high as we possibly can."
The Northern Irishman added: "We look it (the table) and there are six points between us and Chelsea (whose 1-0 win at Eastlands left them level on points with second-placed City), so there is still a lot to play for and we will be fighting right until the very end.
"But, if I'm asked to give an honest answer, I'd probably say that this year is too soon for us."

 

[Farkmaster]

Of course we aren't, why would I get angry?

 

[Dirkus_Circus]

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Good. It's time he starts learning from Mourinho. If you want to be the best, learn from the (current) best.

 

[Farkmaster]

Of all the things that he could learn, meaningless rhetoric would be fairly low down on the list.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Of all the things that he could learn, meaningless rhetoric would be fairly low down on the list.

He's got a lot of the other stuff down imo - he's a really talented, young manager who's able to correct mistakes rather quickly (the defensive stuff is his achilles). I guess it's not important, but it would be fun to have a manager who can just demand that attention - like Maureen does - and take off pressure of the team.

 

[cloggypop]

Hope he doesn't start poking people in the eye

 

[Athens]

Hope he doesn't start poking people in the eye

He could poke under-performing players in the eye. It might motivate them.

Moses might end the season blind, though. Would the chavs make us buy him if that happens?

 

[cloggypop]

You break it you pay for it

 

[localny]

Our fans hold us back. Too many non believers (runs to a Ruari thread..)

 

[Tal]

He could poke under-performing players in the eye. It might motivate them.

Moses might end the season blind, though. Would the chavs make us buy him if that happens?

He hasn't got enough fingers.

{Cue Woland and some alternative poking method images from his hobbyists portfolio}

 

[TheRedCrusade]

Rosco must be happy to hear that from Rodgers

 

[Hansern]

I'll bet everyone was massively surprised by those comments. Not.

 

[StevieM]

The thing is - we could have been challenging despite our obviously smaller squad.

That 6 point difference is from games such as Hull away, WBA away, Southampton at home & Villa at home - games that we should have taken more out of.

Even if we finish 4th, this season will have been a missed opportunity - Chelsea & City aren't going to stop spending - Utd will invest heavily & Arsenal have raised their game in the spending stakes.

 

[Farkmaster]

Yea but by that logic every game is a missed opportunity. Our team has very obvious deficiencies that ultimately over the course of many games will cost points. Our particular deficiencies coupled with two or three very sharp, top tier attackers, lead to massive variance in our quality of play. It's not attitude mostly, it's weak links, imbalances, players out of position, and sub par defensive organization. If we finish fourth this season and qualify it will be a huge opportunity seized.

 

[Mersey86]

Arsenal had poor results home to Villa, at Southampton and West Brom; City at Sunderland, Stoke, Cardiff and Southampton; Chelsea home to West Brom and West Ham and at Southampton. Everybody has some poor results. We've had no more than our share.

 

[Rosco]

I'll bet everyone was massively surprised by those comments. Not.

Have a look at the Arsenal thread

 

[hmmmmm1]

He probably only talked us up early in Jan, so he could push board to sign some players.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Arsenal had poor results home to Villa, at Southampton and West Brom; City at Sunderland, Stoke, Cardiff and Southampton; Chelsea home to West Brom and West Ham and at Southampton. Everybody has some poor results. We've had no more than our share.

Yep, if we are going to start cursing the dropped points so can the clubs above us, its frustrating when you look back at points thrown away but its just the way it is, its the same for every club in the league.

 

[StevieM]

Yea but by that logic every game is a missed opportunity. Our team has very obvious deficiencies that ultimately over the course of many games will cost points. Our particular deficiencies coupled with two or three very sharp, top tier attackers, lead to massive variance in our quality of play. It's not attitude mostly, it's weak links, imbalances, players out of position, and sub par defensive organization. If we finish fourth this season and qualify it will be a huge opportunity seized.

Not every game, no. I didn't expect much out of City, Chelsea, Arsenal away or Everton & Newcastle away for that matter.

I also disagree about how much attitude plays a part. Man Utd have been carried by a few top quality players, a pile of average ones and an unshakable attitude to winning for years.

We started with the same team in the last 2 matches - one smashed Everton, the other struggled against WBA - the intensity wasn't there - that's an attitude problem in my book.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

there is no doubt that when we play aewy from home, our mentality/attitude/intensity is different, bar only Spurs game, or probably Stoke

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

there is no doubt that when we play aewy from home, our mentality/attitude/intensity is different, bar only Spurs game, or probably Stoke

So there is a little bit of doubt then?

 

[cloggypop]

Nicely done Brendan

 

[the count]

We are definitely title contenders the same as if we drop points next Wednesday we won't be making the Champions league

 

[localny]

Wow six points off the title race tomorrow. Even after a bad patch

 

[Molbystwin]

Im DE FUCKING LIGHTED he said that... every time he bigs us up we shit a brick.

We are 5 points back... no CL distractions and most of our harder games will be at home... its a long shot and he is right about squad depth... that said our attack is fucking UNREAL at times...

 

[Frogfish]

The Naysayers will be keeping out of this thread until (if) we lose again.

 

[Modo]

Sometimes I wonder what the point is beating Arsenal 5-1 only to drop 4 points against Villa and WBA.
We're competing for fourth and I'm OK with it.

 

[Dreambeliever]

We now have a team that can beat anyone on its day.

We need a squad to win the league

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

WE WILL NOT WIN THE LEAGUE.

/jinx off.